The statement added: “If Broadhurst had got the medical help from the emergency services at the time of this incident, Natalie may still be alive.

“Natalie was a loving and caring daughter, granddaughter, and sister, but above all she was a loving mother to her 10-year old daughter.

“Natalie was, and still is at the centre of our world, and we will all try to rebuild our lives knowing we will no longer have the beauty, the joy and the happiness of having Natalie by our side.”

Broadhurst pleaded guilty to manslaughter by leaving Ms Connolly unsupervised and failing to contact the emergency services in circumstances where “a risk of death as a result of her condition” would have been obvious.

Passing sentence on Broadhurst on Monday at Birmingham Crown Court, Mr Justice Julian Knowles told the father-of-three: “You were capable of taking decisions and making choices. This was grossly irresponsible behaviour by you.

“You left that vulnerable young woman to die in the saddest and most avoidable of circumstances. You showed blatant disregard for a very drunk and injured woman.”

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Offering mitigation before sentencing, defence QC Stephen Vullo said Broadhurst, Wolverley, had set up home with Ms Connolly in the context of a loving relationship.

The couple had both been drinking heavily and had taken cocaine on the day leading up to Ms Connolly’s death, the court heard.

Stressing that Broadhurst had been cleared of what prosecutors initially claimed was an “angry” assault, Mr Vullo said of Ms Connolly’s death: “He accepts he should have recognised the risk she was in and failed to do so.

“He feels remorse for it and always has done. This case is about negligence and somebody losing a loved one.”

The lawyer added that Broadhurst knew his partner was bleeding but did not think she would come to any harm.

“The backdrop to this was a loving, and what was going to be a long-term, relationship,” Mr Vullo added.

Broadhurst, who was showed no emotion as he was sentenced, was told he will serve half of his sentence in prison and the remainder on licence.